Non-narrators

Non-narrators are individuals or entities that do not directly tell a story or recount events. They may be characters within a narrative who do not function as the primary voice, objects that feature in a story but are not capable of conveying information through speech, or abstract concepts that influence the plot without actively participating in the storytelling. Their role is often to be observed or experienced within the context of the story. They contribute to the atmosphere, setting, and overall impact of the narrative without explicitly narrating.

Non-narrators meaning with examples

• In a detective novel, a bustling city street is a non-narrator. It provides the setting, ambiance of the city, and informs the detective’s surroundings and opportunities. The sounds, smells, and sights are conveyed through the narrator's descriptions, but the street itself does not tell its own story. It's experienced.
• A protagonist’s diary entries, read by the narrator, can be considered non-narrator elements that provide subjective viewpoints within the larger story. They offer a unique and intimate peek into the protagonist's thoughts and emotions, and can be contrasted with the narrator’s more objective summary and descriptions.
• In a play, the scenery and props function as non-narrators. They establish the setting, evoke moods, and provide visual cues that support the dialogue and actions of the actors. These components, such as the throne, the battlefield, or the dimly lit room, are silently informing.
• Within an epic poem, the divine entities, while influencing the characters' fates, might serve as non-narrators. They provide the overall atmosphere, setting and ambiance of the story; they are referred to by other characters, but not the storytellers themselves.
• Consider an historical documentary: interviews with experts may act as non-narrators; the expert offers a perspective in the overall telling of events in order to help inform the final story that the film presents.